Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], December 28 (ANI): Reacting to the issue of allocating space for a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Author and daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, Sharmistha Mukherjee said that the issue must not be politicised.
"There should be no politics on this issue because it has been our tradition that memorials are built for former Prime Ministers, PV Narasimha Rao was an exception and seeing the stellar contribution of Dr Manmohan Singh, I completely believe that there should be no controversy on his memorial and he should also be given Bharat Ratna," said Sharmistha Mukherjee.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Sambit Patra said that there was a procedure involved in building a memorial and slammed the Congress for indulging in politics on the issue.
"There is a procedure to build a memorial but cremation is a process that can't wait... It was a direct communication that our party had extended. But, after that, the kind of politics Congress did, it shouldn't have been done on the day of grief. I want to tell the Congress and its supporters who are saying absurd things - while being in office if someone who has damaged the dignity of former PM Manmohan Singh - it's Congress party."
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away at AIIMS at the age of 92 due to age-related ailments on Thursday, was cremated today with full state honours at Nigam Bodh Ghat in Delhi's Kashmere Gate in the presence of his family, friends, colleagues and government dignitaries.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid their last respects to the former PM by placing a wreath near his mortal remains earlier on Saturday.
The last rites were carried out at the VIP Ghat as per the Sikh rituals. Singh's mortal remains were placed on a pyre of sandalwood sticks. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge along with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were also present for the cremation ceremony after they paid tribute to the former Prime Minister.
The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were brought to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi from his residence on early Saturday morning for party workers to pay their respects. Several people also gathered outside the residence of the former Prime Minister in Delhi to pay their tributes.
Manmohan Singh's political career spanned several decades, with notable positions including Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he spearheaded economic reforms that transformed India's economy. He served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, succeeding Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
His tenure is particularly remembered for his steady leadership during economic crises and his contributions to modernising India's economy. After his second term, Dr Singh retired from public life, having led India through a period of unprecedented growth and international recognition. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2014 after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections. (ANI)
